Today I'm thankful for...

A day off. Even though it was spent cleaning house and doing laundry it was still a nice break from the norm.

Today I'm thankful for...

Books. Every Saturday morning my mom, grandmother and I would start our day at the library. I loved to go in and pick out as many books as I wanted and you can bet all of them got read. I've always loved to read and I still find a great story a magical get-away. I love to read to my babies and I hope they fall in love with reading also.

Today I'm thankful for...

Trey's job. Trey works for a wonderful company that values their employees and has some great benefits. I am truly grateful for his job and his provision for our family.

Thankful Weekend

This weekend I'm thankful for my job and my education. I'm keenly aware these days how thankful I am to have a job. With so many people out of work I am truly blessed to have a good job (I may not always act like it!) and a great boss. I am also thankful to have been afforded the opportunity to go back to school and further my education.

Today I'm thankful for...

My home. When Trey and I moved into our home on last May I couldn't help but think about how it wildly exceeded my expectations. I was so overcome with how much the Lord had blessed our search and led us to the perfect house. We were looking for a home with more room so that when a baby Hankins came along we would have a place to put him/her, what we didn't know then was that we were going to be having 2 babies to fill it up. I always pray that our home will be a place filled with love, safety, and tons of laughter.

Today I'm thankful for...

My friends. I have always been the type of person who loves being surrounded by people and having lots of friends. I am so blessed to have close girlfriends who are in all stages of life. I've got single friends, friends with older kids who I can go to for advice, and friends who are just starting their families to share stories with. Trey and I are also blessed with some wonderful couple friends who we so enjoy spending time with.

Today I'm thankful for...

My family. I am so blessed to have parents who are still together, raised me with a sense of right/wrong and who I am, and who love me (and now my children) unconditionally. I am also blessed to have grown up with all of my grandparents surrounded by love and fun.

Thankful November

I'm thinking that I'll dedicate the whole month of November to things that I'm thankful for. I'm blessed beyond measure so I shouldn't have any trouble coming up with a new thankful thing every day. I'll do three things today to get me caught up.

I'm thankful for my relationship with my Savior. No matter how little or how much I put in, his steadfast love and presence never waivers. Salvation is my most undeserved yet treasured blessing.

I'm thankful for my husband. I could not ask for a more loving and patient husband and father. Even when it's hard my marriage is a treasure.

I'm thankful for my children. With so many women struggling with infertility, sick kids, and loss I am all the more thankful for 2 happy healthy babies. Hulse and Olivia are the gleam in my eye and the joy in my heart.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:27-29

A 9 Month Post

Hulse and Olivia,

You are 9 months and 1 day old today. You are both at a super fun age right now where everyday it's something new. Your Dad and I can't wait to see what you can do every day. You have both had a pretty good month despite the fact that you had the flu and were confined to the house for a week. This month you've tailgated, had some time with each parent alone while the other was out of town, and in a couple of days you'll dress up for your first Halloween. For your first Trick or Treat Hulse you'll be the Tin Man and Livi you'll be going as the Cowardly Lion.

Hulse you are a big boy at 21 pounds. You are growing right on track. It's just a matter of time before you're crawling. You are on your hands and knees everyday trying to figure out what the next step is. You also like to pull up on things especially when mom and dad hold your hands. You love to play and clap your hands when you get really excited. You are saying new sounds all of the time, but your favorite words are still Mama and Dada. You love baby food and have even started eating some table food like pickles, mashed potatoes, baked beans, baby yogurt, and even a little BBQ.

Olivia you are growing like a little weed coming in at 19 pounds. You are also interested in being mobile but take more of an army crawl approach. Scooting on your belly is a favorite activity. You also like to pull to a standing position and you love to walk in place once you get there. I think you would rather skip the crawling action and go straight for walking, but your poor momma isn't ready for that yet! You are going to be a late sleeper like your mom. If we let you on the weekends you'll usually sleep until at least 8:00. I've seen you eat your entire breakfast bottle with your eyes closed because you can't believe we would wake you up so early. You are also a very playful little girl until it's time for your nap and then your ready for your beauty rest. You also clap your hands when you get excited and your constantly have a smile on your face. You also really like your baby food and have tried table foods as well.

8 Months Old

I can't even beleive that I'm typing that you are 8 months old. Where in the world did that time go? I don't know, but's it's going much too quickly.

Here is a little snapshot of what you are both up to at your 8 month birthday.


Hulse:
Talking all the time. You can say Mama and Dada.
You've learned to clap and will even do it on cue when you're not being a turkey.
You're very close to waving.
I think you're getting ready to be on the move. There is for sure some scootin' going on.
You have the funniest belly laugh. You're daddy can really get you going and it's hillarious.
You still love your bottle and jar food. Not super crazy about the sippy cup but mommy and daddy haven't been very diligent about it, so you can blame us.
You love to be played with and will sometimes get a little fussy when your companion leaves the room.
Still an excellent sleeper.

Olivia:
You are also a talker and a grinner. You are also saying Mama and Dada.
You're doing this funny little thing when you get tickled you have taken to cocking your little head to the side. It makes your audience smile, and we know how you love to perform!
You are also interested in being on your belly a lot learning how to move. I think you will be crawling in no time.
You're a pretty good eater, but I think you like the real food better than your bottle. You are also a good drinker with the sippy cup. You really had no problems adjusting to it.
You have developed into a great sleeper. In fact, you've become the one we have to wake up in the mornings to get ready for daycare.

7 Months Old

So we're bluffing here a little bit because we were on vacation when the babies turned seven months old, but here's their picture.


Olivia at 7 Months:
- You are on the move, rolling around to get to where you need to go.
- Sitting up and playing with everything.
- Eating a fruit and veggie/meat everyday. You do turn your nose up at green beans, peaches, and macaroni and cheese.
- Got your first 2 teeth. You've been a little out of sorts about it, but not too terrible.
- You're a talker and love to "preach" at anyone who will listen.


Hulse at 7 Months:
- You are still a pretty lazy boy and not too interested in being mobile. I think you think we're going to carry you everywhere you need to go for the rest of your life!
- Sitting up, reaching, and also playing with everything.
- Eating a fruit and veggie/meat everyday. Like your sister you don't want green beans, peaches, or mac and cheese.
- No toofers yet!
- Talking up a storm! On vacation you talked for at least an hour straight on the car ride.

Vacation 2009

We decided to bite the bullet and take a much needed family vacation to the Gulf. The most common reaction we got when people found out about the trip was "You're taking the babies?", and the answer was yes we decided to take the babies. Not to mention we went with some friends who also have a 7 1/2 month old. It's not much of a family vacation without the family, so we loaded up my parent's Tahoe with what seemed like our entire house and off we went. Turns out our babies are rock star travelers. They did so great the entire drive down. They slept, watched Nemo, Cinderella, and Praise Baby, or entertained themselves. We stayed out in Fort Morgan at the Gulf Shores Plantation and had a room right on the beach.The weather was great all week long and school has started for most kids so we really had the run of the place. The babies really enjoyed the beach. Olivia went right in the ocean and starting playing with Daddy. Hulse didn't like the waves or noise so he was content playing in/eating the sand. They both loved the pools and did well adjusting to the new surroundings. We went out to eat at night and they did great playing in their highchairs and watching people. We even got brave and headed to Foley for some outlet shopping one day and stayed from 9-4 without incident. Trey and I have decided that we are just blessed with some really great babies and we look forward to many more vacations!

Here are some pictures from the trip!

Toofer the Price of One

Yesterday morning we noticed that Olivia was drooling up a storm. She has not slept well at all the night before so we knew something was up. She also kept cramming anything she could get her hands on in her mouth and gnawing. Trey just happened to check in her mouth and our 7 month baby girl has her first tooth. We couldn't believe it. I'm sure she'll start asking for cookies any day now.

Water Babies

You've seen the video now for the recap. We decided to take the babies to Scott, Donna, and Tanner's new pool to see how they would do in water bigger than the blow up pool in the backyard, and because mom and dad are always willing to test drive a pool!
Hulse and Livi, you did great! You really seemed to like the water and had no problem getting right in. You floated around in your boats but you also liked getting out and "swimming" around the pool. I've always heard that babies can take to water very naturally and Hulse you did that. Daddy took you out of your boat and you went straight to your belly and started kicking away. We have a future Olympic swimmer on our hands. We swam for over an hour and you both had a great time. I'm glad you liked it because mom and dad both love water. Here are some great pictures from the day.

Swimming

We've been in a bath tub.
We've been in a blow-up pool that is smaller than the bath tub.
But now we've finally been in a real pool!